Crape Myrtle Festival

What Crape Myrtle Festival does

Crape Myrtle Festival, Inc. (CMF) is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. The organization raises funds to provide financial assistance, outreach, and education to HIV service organizations and LGBTQ+ community organizations in the Triangle area of North Carolina. CMF operates entirely on volunteer labor with no paid staff and no physical office, conducting outreach through a P.O. Box mailing address.

The organization's core "products" are a portfolio of annual and recurring fundraising events — including the flagship Grand Gala, recurring Drag Brunches (documented 2013-2025), the Harvest Tea & Check Presentations, and Oscar Parties — supplemented by a tiered Benefactor membership program (Copper through Diamond, $75-$5,000) with monthly recurring options via PayPal and a merchandise storefront on Bonfire.com. CMF redistributes the majority of proceeds through an annual grant program awarding one or two large grants of $10,000-$40,000 and multiple smaller grants of $500-$5,000 to qualifying 501(c)(3) HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ nonprofits, with the Court volunteer committee (led by an annually selected Queen and Co-Queen) driving fundraising execution.

The revenue model is multi-stream: tax-deductible donations (one-time and recurring), event ticket and sponsorship revenue, and merchandise sales. There are no technology products, no proprietary platform, no AI components, and no funding rounds or institutional investors — the organization is governed by a Board of Directors and operates as a community-driven fundraiser with deep relational ties to long-term beneficiary organizations including the Duke HIV/AIDS Policy Clinic (funded since 1996), NC AIDS Action Network, Alliance of AIDS Services Carolina, and LGBT Center of Raleigh. Geographic scope is regional, concentrated in the Triangle area of North Carolina with occasional support extending to broader state-level HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ advocacy efforts.

Name

Crape Myrtle Festival

Legal name

Crape Myrtle Festival, Inc.

Website

https://crapemyrtlefest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Crape Myrtle Festival is a volunteer-led Raleigh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds through events, benefactor memberships, and merchandise to award annual grants to HIV/AIDS service and LGBTQ+ support organizations in the Triangle area of North Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax-Deductible Donations: The organization raises funds through tax-deductible donations at various giving levels (Copper through Diamond Benefactor), with options for monthly recurring donations via PayPal subscriptions.
2. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from event admissions including Drag Brunch tickets, Grand Gala tickets, and other fundraising events. Bronze Host Benefactor and above levels include event tickets.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of CMF branded merchandise through Bonfire.com storefront, including apparel and promotional items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Crape Myrtle Festival is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds through community events (Drag Brunch, Grand Gala, Harvest Tea) and a tiered benefactor donation program. It distributes annual grants ($500 to $40,000) to nonprofit organizations serving the HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ communities in the Triangle area of North Carolina.

Product overview

Crape Myrtle Festival, Inc. (CMF) is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Raleigh, North Carolina, that raises funds for HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ support organizations in the Triangle area. The organization operates a portfolio of fundraising events including Drag Brunch events (held regularly since 2013), the annual Grand Gala, and the Harvest Tea & Check Presentations. CMF distributes annual grants ranging from $500 to $40,000 to qualifying nonprofit organizations. The organization operates through a volunteer structure called The Court, led by an annual Queen and Co-Queen. Revenue generation includes a tiered benefactor membership program ($75-$5,000) and merchandise sales through its CMF Swag Store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drag Brunch Events Recurring drag brunch fundraising events featuring drag performances, serving as the primary community engagement and fundraising vehicle for CMF. Open to individual donors and event attendees.
• Grand Gala Annual flagship fundraising gala event marking the start and conclusion of each volunteer Court year. Includes recognition for top-tier benefactors (Diamond, Platinum).
• Harvest Tea and Check Presentation Annual ceremony at which CMF presents grant awards to beneficiary nonprofit organizations, typically held in mid-November.
• CMF Grant Program Annual grant awards to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving HIV-positive individuals and the LGBTQ+ community in the Triangle area of North Carolina. Grants range from $500 to $5,000 for most awards, with one or two large grants ranging from $10,000 to $40,000 annually.
• Benefactor Donation Program Tax-deductible donation program with multiple tiers — Copper ($75), Copper Couple ($125), Bronze ($250), Bronze Couple ($350), Silver ($500), Gold ($1,000), Platinum ($2,500), and Diamond ($5,000) — providing event tickets, recognition, and sponsorship benefits at each level. Available as one-time or monthly recurring donations through PayPal.
• CMF Swag Store Online merchandise store selling CMF-branded items including T-shirts and apparel, operated through Bonfire.com as an e-commerce storefront.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 12 tons of food distributed annually to nearly 200 individuals through beneficiary Alliance of AIDS Services Carolina
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LGBTQ Center of DurhamminorOthersCMF provides financial support to the LGBTQ Center of Durham, which supports LGBTQ+ people through services, programming, resources, and support networks that center their wellbeing.
• LGBT Center of RaleighminorOthersCMF funds the LGBT Center of Raleigh, which serves, empowers, and advocates for the well-being of diverse LGBTQ+ communities in the area.
• Duke HealthminorOthersCMF supports organizations that work with Duke Health on LGBTQ+ resources and health services in the local and state community.
• Beth Meyer SynagogueminorOthersListed as a resource partner providing AIDS/PrEP information and support services.
• Pullen Memorial Baptist ChurchminorOthersListed as a resource partner providing faith and spirituality resources for the LGBTQ+ community.
• North Carolina AIDS Action NetworkcoreOthersLong-term beneficiary of CMF grants; CMF funding supports policy and advocacy work including the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and HIV Speaks on Jones Street annual advocacy day.
• Duke HIV/AIDS Policy CliniccoreOthersOne of CMF's earliest grant recipients since 1996; CMF's early support was critical and used to leverage additional funding for legal services to low-income persons living with HIV.
• Alliance of AIDS Services CarolinacoreOthersMajor CMF beneficiary providing food pantry services (12+ tons annually to nearly 200 individuals), support groups, and community-based HIV/AIDS services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Stonewall Community Foundation: LGBTQ+ community foundation that grants to HIV/AIDS and queer service orgs in the NYC region — comparable grantmaking mission and beneficiary mix, but operates at a larger institutional scale with a staffed team rather than an all-volunteer model.
• Pride Foundation: Regional LGBTQ+ community foundation (Pacific Northwest) providing grants and scholarships to queer and HIV/AIDS-serving orgs — comparable mission and donor-tier engagement model, though with paid staff and a multi-state footprint.
• Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice: Foundation making grants to LGBTQ+ social justice and HIV/AIDS organizations globally — directly comparable grantmaking focus on LGBTQ+ communities, though operates internationally with paid staff and institutional funder base.
• Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC): One of the oldest HIV/AIDS service and fundraising organizations in the U.S., running events and direct service programs — directly comparable HIV/AIDS mission, though a much larger, professionally staffed NYC-headquartered organization with a national donor base.
• Point Foundation: National LGBTQ+ scholarship and leadership nonprofit that channels donor funds to queer students and grantees — comparable mission (LGBTQ+ support via grantmaking) and similar donor-tier structure, but a much larger, professionally staffed organization.
• AIDS United: National HIV/AIDS policy and grantmaking organization funding direct-service and advocacy organizations — directly comparable HIV-focused grantmaking mission, though operating at national scale with institutional funding rather than event-driven grassroots fundraising.

Regional players

• Triangle Community Foundation: Community foundation serving the same Triangle (Raleigh-Durham) region of North Carolina that CMF operates in — comparable regional focus and grantmaking posture, but a much larger multi-fund vehicle with broader cause areas beyond LGBTQ+/HIV.
• Equality NC Foundation: Statewide North Carolina LGBTQ+ advocacy and support organization — shares CMF's NC-based geographic and LGBTQ+ mission overlap, though focused on policy advocacy rather than event-based HIV/AIDS grantmaking.

Direct peers

• Imperial Court System: Network of LGBTQ+ 'Court' fundraising chapters (Emperor/Empress-led) that hold galas and events to raise money for charitable causes including HIV/AIDS services — directly mirrors CMF's Queen/Court volunteer structure and event-based fundraising format.
• Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence: Volunteer-led LGBTQ+ community order that raises funds for HIV/AIDS and queer causes through events, drag, and grantmaking — same volunteer-community, charity-event-driven model as CMF, though national/international in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-crape-myrtle-festival-incorporated

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Crape Myrtle Festival